Method and apparatus to monitor a reservoir or a structure

Abstract

A method and apparatus to monitor the weight of a silo or tank is disclosed. The system is adapted to be attached to a leg of the silo and comprises a load cell, a support member anchored to the ground and a lifting device attached to the load cell and to the support member. The load cell comprises two extremities that are attached to the silo leg and comprises an aperture there between. The aperture is preferably threaded to receive the lifting device, such as a bolt. The bolt is rotated using a tool as to induce a movement of the load cell along the axis of the bolt thereby lifting the load cell and the attached silo leg. Strain gauges are attached to the load cell to measure the variation in an electric or optical signal that is translated in human readable data using a monitoring device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for monitoring and supporting the weight of a structure above a surface, the structure comprising supporting members, the system comprising:
 an anchoring member attached to the surface; 
 a load cell support attached to the surface; 
 a load cell acting as a lever mechanism, the load cell comprising:
 a first end section pivotally attached to the anchoring member; 
 a second end section configured to receive a lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism being configured to upwardly or downwardly move the second end section of the load cell with respect to the load cell support; 
 the load cell being pivotally attached to one of the supporting members between the first and the second end sections; 
 
 at least one means for measuring any deformation of the load cell. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , the upward movement of the second end section lifting the supporting member attached to the load cell. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , the lifting mechanism being adapted to be removed when the second end section of the load cell is attached to the load cell support using an attachment means. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , the attachment means comprising a bolt and a locking pin. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , the lifting mechanism being proximal to the attachment means. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , the lifting mechanism being attached to the second end section of the load cell. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , the lifting mechanism being a bolt and the second section of the load cell comprising a threaded passage to receive the bolt. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , the lifting mechanism being integrated in the load cell. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , the load cell being pivotally attached to the support member about the center of the load cell. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprising a monitoring device for translating deformation of the load cell measured by the measuring means in a signal simulating the weight of the structure. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , the first and second end sections of the load cell being the first and second extremities of the load cell. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , the load cell support being U-shaped. 
     
     
       13. A method for monitoring and supporting the weight of a structure comprising at least one supporting element above a surface, a load cell being attached to the at least one supporting element, the method comprising:
 pivotally attaching a first end section of the load cell to an anchoring member; 
 pivotally attaching the load cell to at least one supporting element; 
 lifting a second end section of the load cell to upwardly move the load cell until a desired position is reached above the surface; 
 when the desired position is reached, maintaining the second end section of the load cell at the desired position; 
 measuring deformation of the load cell; 
 calculating load of the supporting element using the deformation of the load cell. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , the lifting of the second end section further comprising using a lifting mechanism. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , the method further comprising removing the lifting mechanism when the second end section is maintained at the desired position. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising converting the measured deformation in a signal transducing the weight of the structure. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , the structure comprising more than one supporting element, the method further comprising repeating all steps for each supporting element of the structure. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , maintaining the second end section of the load cell at the desired position further comprising using a maintaining means. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising locking the second end section in a position to create a rigid connection between the load cell and the maintaining means. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , the method further comprising lowering the second end section until the maintaining means supports the load cell. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 13 , maintaining the second end section of the load cell at the desired position further comprising attaching the second end to a load cell support anchored to the surface. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  where maintaining the second end section of the load cell at the desired position further comprises inserting a bolt through the load cell and the load cell support and locking the bolt with a locking pin. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising lowering the second end section until the load cell support supports the load cell. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 13 , wherein maintaining the second end section of the load cell at the desired position further comprises inserting a rigid member under the load cell. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , the method further comprising lowering the second end section until the rigid member supports the load cell.